José Mourinho has once again found himself at the center of controversy in Turkish football, with Galatasaray accusing the Fenerbahçe manager of making racist remarks and vowing to take legal action.
However, former Galatasaray star Didier Drogba has stepped in to defend Mourinho, dismissing the accusations and urging fans to concentrate on their club’s title challenge.
The Istanbul Derby turmoil
Galatasaray’s outrage stems from Mourinho’s post-match comments following the fiery 0-0 draw between the two arch-rivals. While the club did not specify which remarks they deemed offensive, Mourinho’s description of Galatasaray’s bench as "jumping like monkeys" and his criticism of Turkish referees sparked a storm of criticism. The club released a strong statement condemning what they called "inhumane rhetoric" and announced plans to file complaints with UEFA, FIFA, and Turkish authorities.
Mourinho, who had already been sanctioned earlier this season for comments alleging bias against Fenerbahçe, had praised the appointment of a foreign referee, Slavko Vinčić, for the derby. "Anyone, not just from this country but also abroad, watched a big football match. I think the man responsible for that was the referee," he said. However, it was his response about 19-year-old defender Yusuf Akçiçek that drew particular backlash: "After the big dive in the first minute and their bench jumping like monkeys on the top of the kid… with a Turkish referee, you would have a yellow card after one minute, and after five minutes, I would have to change him."
Drogba to the rescue
In the wake of these developments, Drogba, a beloved figure among Galatasaray supporters, took to social media to express his support for Mourinho, whom he affectionately called "Dad."
"You know how proud I was to wear the yellow and red jersey and my love for the most decorated club in Turkey!!" Drogba wrote. "We all know how passionate and heated rivalries can be, and I’ve been lucky enough to experience it. I’ve seen the recent comments about José Mourinho. Trust me when I tell you I have known José for 25 years, and he is not a racist. History (past and recent) is there to prove it."
Drogba also sought to refocus attention on Galatasaray’s title ambitions, urging fans to rally behind the team. "Let’s focus on our games, support our brilliant Lions, and let’s win the league to get close to our 5 ⭐️. How can my ‘Dad’ be a racist? 🤷🏾♂️ Come on, guys."
With the Turkish title race heating up and tensions between the two clubs reaching new heights, Drogba’s words serve as both a defense of Mourinho and a call for unity among Galatasaray supporters. However, whether his plea will ease the escalating dispute remains to be seen.
Didier Drogba backs José Mourinho against racism claims, urging Galatasaray fans to focus on their title race instead of controversy.